Philanthropist and executive Larry Ruvo serves as Senior Managing Director of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada and Chairman of Keep Memory Alive and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nevada. A fixture of the community for more than 40 years, Mr. Ruvo has directed Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada since 1969, when it was known as Southern Wine and Spirits, and has overseen its ascension to becoming Nevada’s largest wholesale liquor, wine, and beer importer and distributor.

Mr. Ruvo is well known in the Las Vegas community for his ongoing support of charitable organizations, many of which are associated with education and children. The annual UNLVino fundraiser is among his most recognized endeavors, a food, wine, and spirits event in which all proceeds are donated to fund scholarships for students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.

In 1994, after the loss of his father, Lou Ruvo, to Alzheimer’s disease, Mr. Ruvo made it his mission to create positive change and hopefully cure the devastating diseases of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, MSA, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. He worked toward establishing a cognitive disease center, which resulted in his founding The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. The institute is unique in its bold mission: to establish the international gold standard in the treatment of patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s and in supporting their caregivers. The founding of Keep Memory Alive and its partnership with the esteemed Cleveland Clinic has forever changed medicine in Nevada and around the world.

The building – designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry – is home to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, and has become a global epicenter for research into brain diseases, while hosting numerous symposiums, seminars, and charitable events.

Professional and Community Involvement:Trustee, Cleveland Clinic BoardFounding member, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Nevada ChapterFormer member, World Presidents’ OrganizationFounding member, Council for a Better NevadaFounding member, Nevada Tourism AllianceAdvisory Committee to the Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsTrustee, UNLV Foundation BoardMember of the Bluecoats in Nevada (an organization established to help families of firemen and police officers killed in the line of duty)Board Member, Nevada Ballet Dance TheatreBoard Member, American Gaming Association (AGA) NV Co-chair for the George W. Bush Presidential CenterBailli of the Chaine des Rotisseurs , Las Vegas

Awards:Lifetime Leadership Award from Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (April 2016)Caesars Community Hero Award from Caesar’s Foundation (April 2016)Inductee, NV Business Hall of Fame (February 2013)Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans (April 2013)Angel Awards Humanitarian of the Year, In Business magazine (2010) Woodrow Wilson Award (2009)Distinguished Nevadan Award, Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents (2009)Most Influential Businessmen of Southern Nevada (2004 & 2009) Governor’s Philanthropist of the Year Award (2007)On several occasions, honored by the United State CongressKnighted into the Order of the Holy SepulchreMan of the Year, MDAMan of the Year, University of Nevada, Las VegasMan of the Year, Food & Beverage Director’s Association Community Leadership Award, Points of Light Foundation President’s Medal, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Inductee, Gaming Hall of Fame (2005)Education Hero Award, Public Education Foundation (2005)Altruistic Award, the Meadows SchoolHonorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Touro University Nevada